Dalian

Dalian

　　It is the earliest ripening wild variety in the Zhongtiao Mountains, typically maturing in mid to late April. Shaped like the character “人” (person), with two connected lobes, it is red, plump, and shiny, growing above tender green leaves. The moment you see it, you just want to pick one and pop it into your mouth.

　　　　Dalian is a shrub that grows on sun-facing mountain slopes, near water, and along roadsides. Each tree’s main stem and canopy are about 1–1.5 meters tall, with oblong-shaped leaves. It blooms with small purple-white flowers in early February and ripens in late April. Its flavor is sweet with a slight bitterness. Due to the complex terrain of the mountains—with varying levels of sun exposure and elevation—the harvest period can last from twenty days to a month. That’s why there’s a saying: “Mountain women never go poor—once the Dalian fades, the Wuwei red comes in.”